Universal continuous folder for boxes



Nov. 21, 1933. P. R. SIMMONS UNIVERSAL CONTINUOUS FOLDER FOR BOXES Filed June 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 7/7! A. /n/vo/vs.

A TTORNEYJ.

1933- P. R. SIMMONS UNIVERSAL CONTINUOUS FOLDER FOR BOXES 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed June 1. 1931 I N V EN TOR. Pfiyl K j/M/VO/VS,

ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES UNIVERSAL CONTINUOUS FOLDER FOR- BOXES Paul R. Simmons, Marion, ImL, assignor to Indiana Fibre Products Company, Marion, Ind.,

a corporation Application June 1, 1931. Serial No. 541,297

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a folding machine for forming tubularly arranged flattened box blanks from flat scored sheets.

The chief object of this invention is to form from flat scored sheets, flattened tubularly arranged box blanks so that said blanks are squared and readily fold into a rectangular box arrangement when opened for filling purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is so arranged that it can be quickly adjusted for operation upon various sizes of sheets for forming the respective box therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the several parts co-operate in a substantially fool-proof manner, thereby positively insuring proper and predetermined folding of the sheets into tubular box blank formation.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the formation of a machine which accomplishes all of the foregoing objects.

Other features of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description hereinafter set forth.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:-

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the relation of several of the parts, one to the other.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine and shows enlarged the flipper mechanism for elevating the ends of the box blank at the beginning of the enfolding thereof.

Fig. .5 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the conveyor mechanism showing an aligning member in non-aligning relation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central sectional view of one form of infolding mechanism.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged central sectional view of the power control for the infolding mechanism.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a conventional framework upon which is mounted the platform portions 11 and the platform portions lie flush with the angle guide members 12. Extending from one end of the machine to the other is an endless conveyor mechanism, herein shown as comprising four parallel chains 13, each of which rides over the sprocket gears 14 carried by shaft 15. The sprocket gears 14 are positioned at the intake end of the machine and the sprocket gears 16 are positioned at the discharge end of the machine and are mounted upon the shaft 1'7, driven by pulley wheel 18 or any suitable source of.power. The respective chains 13 are connected together by transversely positioned bars 19. Each bar 19 is secured in predetermined and equidistant spaced relation relative to the others. Each bar includes a projecting free end which is downturned as at 20 and which underlies the angle member 12. Said bar is thereby prevented from elevating above the plane of the platform 11 or the predetermined operating plane of the device. Suitable intermediate platform portions are indicated at 21.

An overhead cross member 22 is suitably supported at 23 by the framework and adjustably carried thereby are vertically positioned guide and stop members 24. The cross member is 7 squared so that the members 24 are always maintained vertically, or approximately so, no matter in what adjusted position they may be. The members 24 are longitudinally adjustable toward and away from each other, depending upon the width of the sheets of corrugated paper board stock or like material which have been previously cut and scored and are positioned so that one edge of all of the sheets bears against the members 24 and all sheets are aligned thereby. To insure predetermined positioning of the sheets upon the conveying mechanism so that the subsequently functioning folding mechanism will properly operate thereon, there is positioned a longitudinal edge aligning member 25 which likewise is adjustably mounted on the support 22.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, each vertical support 24 terminates at 26 above the plane of operation and the opening therebeneath is just sufficient to permit a single sheet 9 of paper board stock to pass beneath the same. The bar members 19 are also of such thickness that they too will just pass beneath the lower edge 26 of the member 24, whereby single sheet feeding or supply is obtained. Preferably, the spacing between the bars 19 is sufiicient to accommodate the largest width of blank or sheet to be operated upon.

Suitably supported by the member 22 and extending therefrom in the direction of travel, is a guide and pressing member having the depending portion 27 and the downwardly inclined although approximately horizontally positioned bearing portion 28. At least two of these members are provided and they are positioned in spaced relation to each other and in predetermined relation relative to the enfolding mechanism, subsequently to be described. As the carrier bar 19 moves from beneath the members 24 and carries with it the sheet 9, said sheet is carried forwardly by the conveyor and beneath the pressing members 28.

Suitably supported upon the frame work of the machine as at 30 is a transversely positioned member 31 and each is slidably supported in the elongated bearing formed in the member 30. Each member 31 is suitably secured to the outside of an enfolding guide member 32. Each guide member 32 is adjustably supported as at 33 upon a transverse member 34 carried by the main frame 10 as at 35. The elongated members 28 extend parallel to the members 32 and lie between the same, so that the main body of the sheet by means of the members 28 is caused to pass between the guide and folding members 32, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The shape of the guide and folding members 32 for the enfolding of the scored ends of the sheet is shown clearly by a comparison of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

To insure the positive elevation of the free and outwardly directed ends of the sheet from the main body portion which is held in i he plane of operation by the members 28, there is provided a flipper 36 for each end which is arranged so that it is positioned above the plane of travel of the bars 19 carried by the conveyor chains 13. The flipper member 36 is carried by a rod 37 oscillatably mounted in the bearings 38 and 39 carried upon the side of the guide an enfolding member 32. The opposite end of the rod or rock shaft 37 terminates in a bevel gear 40 which meshes with a segmental gear 41 pivotally mounted at 42 upon the said guide and enfolding member 32.

The segmental gear 42 is actuated by lever arm 43 in turn actuated by the rod 44 connected to a lever 45 pivotally supported at 46 upon the same member 32. A spring 47 normally consi rains the arrangement so that the flipper portion 36 is always in elevated position. A stop 48 limits the elevated position. The depending free end of lever 45 is engaged by one of the bars 19 and the lever is oscillated counterclockwise which causes partial rotation of the flipper member 36 and causes the free end thereof to be depressed into a recess 49. When thus positioned, the same lies below the level of plane of operation and the advancing edge of the sheet 9 passes over the flipper member. When the flipper member is returned to the bar clearing and elevated position, it elevates and holds elevated the superposed free end of the sheet 9.

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that this flipper mechanism is positioned in advance of the forwardmost portion of the guide and enfolding member 32 so that the ends of the sheet are elevated suificiently to clear the initial forward end of the members 32. The sheet free ends are gradually folded into a vertical position with respect to the main body portion of the sheet which lies beneath the members 28 in ihe forward or advancing movement of said sheet caused by the advancing of the carrying bar member 19.

By the time the advancing bar member 19 arrives at the position indicated generally by the recess 49, the member 36 is in the elevated position and the bar passes iherebeneath without interference.

In the foregoing, it will be apparent that each bar 19 successively actuates the flipper mechanism and in predetermined timed relation. Suitable adjustment may be provided for slowing up or advancing the insiant of depression or elevation of the flipper member 36, so that it will operate in predetermined relation.

It will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the ends of the blank are initially elevated to clear the forward-most portion of the enfolding and guide members 32. Then said members gradually cause the free ends to move upwardly into a vertical position and then cause said sheet ends to move inwardly toward each other and particularly into the horizontal position so as to lie parallel and in superposed relation to the body of the sheet.

Adjustably mounted on the transverse support member 24 and depending therefrom is a T- shaped member having the vertical fin portion 50 and the lower outwardly directed wing portions 51.

As shown clearly in Fig. 3 the members 28 lie in plane of the wing portions 51, so that the main body of the sheet passes beneath the two parallel and oppositely directed wing portions 51. After insuring this positioning the members 28 may terminate at that position. The forward edge 52 of the T-shaped consiruction is tapered so that the same will not engage the advancing edge of the infolded ends, but will clear or freely pass between the same. As the infolded ends are forced inwardly and downwardly, the free edges engage the tapering sides of portion 50 and thus predetermined spacing between the two initially opposite but now adjacent edges of the free ends are caused to arrange themselves in parallel alignment and lie perpendicular to the advancing edge of the main body of the sheet and with a predetermined spacing between said edges. This predetermined spacing is about three-sixteenths to one-eighth inch. In other words, it is approximately equal to the thickness of the sheet. This is topermit positioning of the two ends at right angles to each o'her when arranged in tubular box formation and sealed therein.

'To insure positive positioning in this predetermined parallel and perpendicular or substantially rectangular arrangement so that a true rectangular box will be obtained when the two adjacent ends are sealed by a sealing machine not shown herein, there is provided a combination bearing and striking member which is positioned at each ride of the T-shaped member. Herein said striking member is indicated by the numeral 61 and has an upturned portion at its forward edge, that is, the one that would be initially encountered in the advancing movement of the sheet. Member 61 is pivotally supported at 62 on the arm 63 and a spring 64 normally holds the member in one position. Engagement of said member 61 upon the infolded end causes the members 61 to pivot at 62 upon arm 63 in opposition to the spring 64. The member 61 lies flat and in a plane parallel to the plane of sheet movement and causes the infolded end to likewise lie parallel to the plane of movement and between said member 61 and the main body portion of the sheet. The forward free end of the member 61 is turned upwardly as at 65 so that it will cammingly and slidingly engage the end rather than stick or pierce the same upon engagement.

As indicated by the line 66 adjacent the pivotal connection 62, there is a cooperating construction stop 66 which limits the tilting movement of member 61 upon member 63 by the spring 64 when the arm 63 is elevated from the pressing or bearing down position into the free position.

Shaft 17 mounts cam 68 having the high portion 69 which engages the follower in the form of a roller '70 carried by an arm 71. Arm '71 rocks arm 63 through rock shaft 165 so that when the high portion 69 engages a roller '70, the lever arrangement 71 is oscillatable in a counterclockwise direction for forcing member 61 downwardly to engage the infolded end. The member 61 is maintained in a bearing down or pressing position for a sufiicient interval. usually long enough for the folded and aligned blank to be just engaged by suitable means for conveying the folded blank to a sealing machine without permitting any lateral or angular shifting of said free ends relative to the body portion or each other. There is thus discharged from the machine a blank arranged in tubular formation but collapsed and with the two outermost and adjacent edges of the free ends in parallel relation and spaced a predetermined distance apart for forming a true corner when the blank is arranged in tubular formation and the forward edge of each end lies substantially parallel to the forward edge of the body and is directly superposed thereabove when the bottom or top forming portion of the box are of the said width. If the bottom or top forming portions are of dissimilar width, this machine will function equally as well, because the alignment is obtained through co-operation of the free edges of the infolded ends with the T-shaped member.

This machine, therefore, is of universal adaptability because the members 32 and the T-shaped member 50 may be independently adjusted upon the support 34, so that it is immaterial whether or not the gap between two enfolded ends is medianly positioned with reference to the scored portions. The machine, therefore, can accommodate a rectangular box as well as a square box, which latter formation is illustrated in Fig. 3. The sealing machine may be of any standard construction which will seal the two free ends together thereby forming a collapsed tubular blank. These blanks may be received from the sealing machine by a stacking machine and stacked and packaged in the collapsed position, one upon the other and shipped to the purchaser for subsequent box formation for the packaging of the purchasers articles or merchandise.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 the platform 21 includes a pair of longitudinal slots 100. Carried by each bar 19 is a pivot forming support 101 upon which is pivotally supported arm 102 terminating in a large radius curved guide and aligning plate 103. Gravity normally retains the arms and plates in depending relation when in the upper run. To positively insure non-interference with members 24 and 2'7, even if longitudinally aligned therewith, and more particularly to prevent engagement of the plates 103 with the approaching edge of more than the lowest sheet in the stack. the spring 104 retains the guide plate retracted. To obtain the full aligning benefit from the face of each bar 19, it is notched as at 105 to nestingly receive the plate 103.

After the ends of the blank have been folded upwardly and inwardly, and immediately prior to the downward and infolding movement the several plates 103 engage the inclined cams 106 (see Fig. 2) which elevate the plates and portions 107 retain the plates elevated until the completely folded box blank is ready for discharge from the device. The longitudinal position of these cams can be adjusted relative to the operation time cycle as indicated at 108.

It has been determined that with relatively large area boxes having but little depth, that the inturning of the lowering ends causes a. slight cocking of the ends. To positively insure actual squaring of any blank at all times, there is provided a depresser in the form of a T-shaped member 109, the stem 110 thereof constituting the piston rod of a power member. Piston 111 is mounted thereon and in cylinder 112. Concentric spring 113 normally retains the depresser in retracted position. Pressure applied to the cylinder through flexible conduit 114 projects the depresser to infold the box ends. Such infolding is accomplished in a relatively short time so that any angling tendency is eliminated. Should the ends angle, the plates 103 are engaged and the free infolded box blank ends are squared.

Immediately thereafter members 61 engage the box ends and complete the infolding.

Each bar 19 at the predetermined time engages lever arm 120, see Fig. 7 which is normally constrained by spring 121 into the path of the bars 19 and rocks the sleeve 122 including the port 123 communicating with outlet 124 to which conduit 114 is connected. A source of pressure communicates as at 125 with a cylindrical reservoir chamber 126 having the port 127. When ports 123 and 127 register pressure is supplied to cylinder 112. The back pressure therein or the vacuum is relieved by port 128 in cylinder 112, see Fig. 6. After the bar 19 has passed over arm 120, the pressure gradually leaks out of cylinder 112 and spring 113 becomes effective. To limit lever arm movement the pin and slot connection 129-130 is provided, see Fig. 7. The same also serves as an aligning arrangement.

The invention claimed is:--

1. In a folding machine for forming tubularly arranged collapsed box blanks from flat and scored sheets, the combination of an endless conveyor, means supplying but a single sheet to said conveyor and supplying said sheets in successive and spaced relation thereto, means for simultane ously elevating toward each other opposite ends of the sheet and from the plane of sheet travel, a T-shaped construction positioned between the inwardly directed ends and having one wing interposed between'each end and the adjacent box forming body portion, and means for engaging the upper surface of the enfolded ends for forcing the same downwardly toward the sheet body portion and into parallel relation therewith and into squared relation with each other for box formation when sealed.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sheet supporting platform, a plurality of endless means each lying and having an upper run movable below the plane of the platform, a plurality of spaced transversely arranged sheet pushing members each secured to the endless means and having a portion movable immediately over the platform for single sheet separation from the pile of sheets and conveyance therefrom and another portion movable below the plane of the platform, aligning means engaged by the forward edges of all sheets when in the pile and terminating immediately above the bottom with just sufficient clearance to permit passage of the member engaged sheet and/or the pushing member, and hold down means for said members operatively associated with the last mentioned portions thereof for preventing upward movement thereof above the platform.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sheet supporting platform, a plurality of endless means each lying and having an upper run movable below the plane of the platform, a plurality of spaced transversely arranged sheet pushing members each secured to the endless means and having aportion movable immediately over the platform for single sheet separation from the pile of sheets and conveyance therefrom and another portion movable below the plane of the platform, aligning means engaged by the forward edges of all sheets when in the pile and terminating immediately above the bottom with just sufiicient clearance to permit passage of the member engaged sheet and/or the pushing member, hold down means for said members operatively associated with the last mentioned portions thereof for preventing upward movement thereof above the platform, sheet aligning means extending transversely of pile engageable aligning means for squaring the sheets relative to the direction of travel, and elongated means arranged above the plane of the platform but lying immediately adjacent thereto for maintaining continued broadside edgewise travel of the sheet by the pushing member when removed from the pile.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sheet supporting platform, a plurality of endless means each lying and having an upper run movable below the plane of the platform, a plurality of spaced transversely arranged sheet pushing members each secured to the endless means and having a portion movable immediately over the platform for single sheet separation from the pile of sheets and conveyance therefrom and another portion movable below the plane of the platform, aligning means engaged by the forward edges of all sheets when in the pile and terminating immediately above the bottom with just sufficient clearance to permit passage of the member engaged sheet and/or the pushing member, hold down means for said members operatively associated with the last mentioned portions thereof for preventing upward movement thereof above the platform, sheet aligning means extending transversely of pile engageable aligning means for squaring the sheets relative to the direction of travel, and a single support common to the pile engageable aligning means, the transverse aligning means, and the elongated means.

5. In combination, a progressively movable conveyor for moving sheets in successive relation, the sheet ends having scored hinge connections to the body thereof, and an inverted T-shaped member interposed between the adjacent edges of the ends when enfolded, the oppositely directed portions of the T-shaped member being arranged between the adjacent end and the body of the sheet and the intermediate portion of said member being interposed between the sheet ends for squaring the sheet ends relative to the body and spacing the adjacent edges of said free ends.

6. In combination, an endless conveyor including a plurality of spaced endless means, a plurality of sheet conveying members secured thereto in spaced relation and transverse of the endless means for forming an open work conveyor, 9. combination guide and infolding member for engaging the scored hinge connected end of a sheet conveyed by one of the transverse members, means arranged to elevate the sheet end immediately prior to encountering the combination guide and infolding member to permit the same to ride thereover in the continued travel, said means being arranged for retractive movement to permit free passage of said transverse members without interference from said end elevating means, and other means operated by one of said transverse members for operating said end elevating means in timed relation.

'7. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed box blanks from flat and scored sheets and arranged in tubular relation, the combination of an endless conveyor, a plurality of spaced sheet conveying members each for conveying a single sheet through the machine, means carried by each member normally arranged in retracted position and movable into exposed position behind the sheet conveyed by said member, infolding mechanism arranged for turning inwardly and downwardly the free end of the box blank to lie adjacent the body of the blank, said first mentioned means being arranged for elevation into exposed position prior to the downward infolding of the free end of the box blank whereby the downwardly directed infolding end engages said means in the final positioning of the free end in parallel relation to the body blank.

8. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed box blanks from flat and scored sheets and arranged in tubular relation, the combination of an endless conveyor, a plurality of spaced sheet conveying members each for conveying a single sheet through the machine, means carried by each member normally arranged in retracted position and movable into exposed position behind the sheet conveyed by said member, infolding mechanism arranged for turning inwardly and downwardly the free end of the box blank to lie adjacent the body of the blank, said first mentioned means being arranged for elevation into exposed position prior to the downward infolding of the free end of the box blank whereby the downwardly directed infolding end engages said means in the final positioning of the free end in parallel relation to the body blank, power means for actuating the infolding mechanism and operable in timed relation relative to each of the members, said infolding mechanism being normally retracted and positively actuated into the infolding position.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet fiatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, a combination guide and infolding member having a forward flattened portion, an angular upturning and inturning portion and a downward and inturning portion, means movable in timed relation and beneath the bottom plane of the sheet for elevating the hinged sheet end to pass over the flattened portion and movable into retracted position to permit passage of the conveying means without interference from the sheet end elevating means, said conveying means including a sheet edge engaging portion lying above the bottom of the sheet, and hold-down means for holding down the main portion of the sheet during the initial infolding movement of the end thereof.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet fiatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, a single relatively stationary combination guide and infolding member having a flattened portion, an upwardly and inturning portion, a downward and inturning portion, said conveying means including a sheet edge engaging portion lying above the bottom plane of the sheet, and means movable in timed relation from beneath the bottom plane for elevating the hinged sheet end to pass over the flattened portion and movable into retracted position to permit passage of the conveying means without interference from the sheet end elevating means.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet fiatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, relatively stationary means for infolding the end over the body portion of the sheet in the travel thereof, a depending member for engaging the free edge of the inturned end for squaring the end relative to the body in the travel thereof, and a laterally projecting portion upon the depending portion of said member upon which the sheet end slides.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet fiatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, relatively stationary means for infolding the end over the body portion of the sheet in the travel thereof, a depending member for engaging'the free edge of the inturned end for squaring the end relative to the body in the travel thereof, and a pressing member for pressing the end of the sheet toward the body of the sheet in the forward travel thereof for insuring accurate squaring of the end of the sheet relative to the body of the sheet.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet flatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, relative stationary means for infolding the end over the body portion of the sheet in the travel thereof, a depending member for engaging the free edge of the inturned end for squaring the end relative to the body of the travel thereof, a laterally projecting portion upon the depending portion of said member upon which the sheet end slides, and a pressing member for pressing the end of the sheet toward the body of the sheet in the forward travel thereof for insuring accurate squaring of the end of the sheet relative to the body of the sheet.

14. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of means for conveying a sheet flatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, relatively stationary means for infolding the end over the body portion of the sheet in the travel thereof, a depending member for engaging the free edge of the inturned end for squaring the end relative to the body of the travel thereof, and an intermittently operable striking member for forcing the sheet end toward the body of the sheet and permitting the free edge to engage the depending member for accurately squaring the end of the sheet relative to the sheet body portion.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for conveying a sheet flatwise, the sheet having a free end scoringly hinged to the body portion, relatively stationary means for infolding the end over the body portion of the sheet in the travel thereof, a depending member for engaging the free edge of the inturned end for squaring the end relative to the body of the travel thereof, and an intermittently operable striking member for forcing the sheet end toward the body of the sheet and permitting the free edge to engage the depending member for accurately squaring the end of the sheet relative to the sheet body portion, said depending member including a laterally projecting portion upon which the sheet end slides to prevent the end ofthe sheet from sliding beneath the depending member in the travelling and squaring movement of the end of the sheet.

16. In combination, a progressively movable conveyor for moving sheets in successive relation, the sheet ends having scored hinge connections to the body thereof, an inverted T-shaped member interposed between the adjacent edges of the ends when infolded toward the body, the oppositely directed portions of the T-shaped member being arranged between the adjacent infolded ends and the body of the sheet, and the intermediate portion of said member being interposed between the sheet ends for squaring the sheet ends relative to the body of the sheet, and means at each side of said member for pressing the free end toward the sheet body and the free edges of the sheet into member engagement for squaring and spacing purposes.

PAUL ,R. SIMMONS. 

